Trotton Estate Vineyards: A Family-Run West Sussex Vineyard Crafting Award-Winning English Wines
Nestled in the rolling countryside of the South Downs National Park in West Sussex, Trotton Estate Vineyards is one of England’s most quietly ambitious boutique wine producers. Owned by Robin and Carolyn Butler, the estate has, in little more than a decade, gone from an empty field left behind by retiring polo ponies to a multi-award-winning winery featured in The Times 2021 list of the Top 20 Vineyards to Visit in the UK and one of only 39 English wine entries recorded in Hugh Johnson’s famed Pocket Wine Book. Across 4.2 hectares of south-facing, free-draining green sand, Trotton Estate produces a thrilling still white from Bacchus and Pinot Gris and a benchmark method-traditional sparkling crafted from the three classic Champagne grape varieties.
From Polo Ponies to Pinot Noir: The Trotton Estate Story
The story of Trotton Estate Vineyards is, at heart, a tale of two very English pastimes - polo and wine - colliding on a strip of West Sussex downland. Robin and Carolyn Butler spent many years playing polo at the renowned Cowdray Park Polo Club, and they bought farmland in Trotton to keep their much-loved polo ponies. When the horses and riders eventually retired and only a handful of favourite ponies remained, the couple faced the question every equestrian landowner dreads: what to do with the empty fields? Cattle, sheep and even llamas were all considered before inspiration struck during a drive along the A272 between Petworth and Midhurst.
Along that road they passed established English vineyards - Nyetimber and Upperton among them - and realised that their own fields at home sat on the same belt of green sand, with similar south-facing slopes. “We realised that our fields at our home in Trotton were on the same belt of green sand together with similar south facing slopes,” the Butlers recall. “The decision was made. We wanted to make an English Sparkling Wine from traditional French grapes and we wanted a Frenchman to make it for us but we wanted it to be fresh and modern.”
In 2013 the Butlers planted their first vineyard with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Carolyn, however, had her eye on a still white, and so she “sneaked in” some Bacchus vines along with her masterstroke - a small dash of Pinot Gris. After three promising summers, the quality of the fruit was clearly exceptional, and in 2015 two further vineyards were planted. That same year the estate produced its first still white, the now legendary Brilliant Bacchus with a dash of Pinot Gris, which immediately won a Silver Medal at the Sommeliers Wine Awards 2017. A second Silver followed for the 2016 vintage, and in 2017 - a notoriously difficult English harvest - the wine still took the only English Bronze awarded. Five years in, the team launched their first Spectacular English Sparkling Brut Classic Cuvée, made by not one but two Frenchmen, and one that has been blind-tasted against the best of the Champagne houses - and won every time.
The Vineyards: Three South-Facing Sites Named After Horses
From the outset, Trotton Estate has treated every block of land as a single living organism. “Each vineyard was beginning to dictate its own style which would be reflected in the wines we were about to produce,” Carolyn explains. Rather than number their plots, the Butlers named them after the ponies whose personalities best matched the character of each site - a heartfelt thank-you to the horses that had grazed the fields before the vines.
Treehut’s Vineyard
The first vineyard, planted in 2013, is dedicated to Treehut - fondly known as The Hut - a New Zealand-bred polo pony from Marlborough who became Robin’s best playing mount. The site is the warmest on the estate, ringed by trees that shelter it from extreme temperatures and give it a microclimate of its own. Like its equine namesake, Treehut’s vineyard is a hard worker: it delivers consistently sized bunches, reliable yields and, in the right year, that flash of brilliance that defines a great English vintage.
O Duque’s Vineyard
O Duque - Portuguese for The Duke - was an unbroken four-year-old Carolyn bought in Portugal: a genius eventer by an English thoroughbred out of a mostly thoroughbred mare with a dash of Lusitano. He was complicated, deep, and the most exciting horse she ever rode. His vineyard sits on pure sand running deep to the chalk below, forcing vine roots to work hard for their nutrients. “There is great debate among the family as to which vineyard is going to produce the best grapes but my money is on this one,” Carolyn says. The grapes from O Duque’s block are expected to deliver the most complex wines on the estate.
The Horses’ Vineyard
Named after the rest of the beloved string - Jingles, Chena, Gringa, Fat Boy, Fancy and others - this third vineyard combines everything an English grower dreams of. It sits slightly higher and is more exposed to the south than O Duque’s, so warm air rolls up the slope to mature the grapes while the breeze keeps them fresh and healthy. “This vineyard is never going to let us down,” Carolyn says, although she concedes O Duque might still steal the trophy.
The Grapes: Rootstocks, Clones and 20,000 Vines
Trotton Estate takes a deeply scientific approach to matching variety, rootstock and clone to terroir. Most vines are grafted onto 5BB and SO4 rootstocks, chosen because they thrive in the free-draining sandy soils that characterise the estate. Within those soils the Butlers grow the three classic Champagne varieties for sparkling - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - plus Bacchus and Pinot Gris for the still wine.
The numbers tell a story of careful balance. Across 4.2 hectares the estate maintains roughly 20,000 vines:
- Chardonnay - 8,000 vines (the dominant variety for the sparkling cuvée)
- Pinot Noir - 6,000 vines
- Pinot Meunier - 2,500 vines
- Bacchus - 2,500 vines
- Pinot Gris - 1,000 vines
The estate is also fastidious about yield. In a generous year an individual vine can produce 2 - 2.5 kg of fruit - potentially enough for two bottles - though Chardonnay and Bacchus typically yield more generously than Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris. Across the whole estate the harvest can swing from 10 to 40 tonnes, and every tonne presses down to around 600 - 700 bottles. English law prohibits watering the vines, so whatever the season delivers ends up in the glass - “just as nature intended,” as the team puts it.
The Wines: Two Award-Winning Expressions of the South Downs
Trotton Estate produces just two wines, but each is made with the focus and precision of a much larger house.
Brilliant Bacchus with a Dash of Pinot Gris
The flagship still white is a 95% Bacchus / 5% Pinot Gris blend - a combination Carolyn describes as a masterstroke that gives the wine a complexity not found in similar Bacchus examples. The 2022 vintage is the latest release, made from grapes grown, hand-picked and basket-collected entirely on the estate before being whole-bunch pressed at neighbouring Stopham Estate, where winemaker Simon Woodhead - renowned for his ‘passion and precision’ - ferments the juice slowly in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to maximise the aromatic lift.
The result is a bright, crystalline wine with an expressive nose of elderflower, apple and pear layered over a citrus thread. On the palate the Pinot Gris brings a soft, ripe roundness that balances the crisp, cool acidity of the Bacchus, finishing long and elegant. Technical specs for the latest release are: 11% abv, pH 3.49, total acidity 5.50, residual sugar 3.5 g/l. Production is deliberately tiny - around 600 bottles per annum. RRP is £15.75 per bottle, with orders taken directly via carolyn.butler@trottonestatevineyards.com.
Spectacular English Sparkling Brut Classic Cuvée
Launched after five years of patient trial and error, the Spectacular English Sparkling Brut Classic Cuvée is a traditional-method blend of the estate’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, made by two French winemakers. Blind-tasted against leading Champagne houses, it has reportedly beaten them every time - a remarkable endorsement for a four-hectare West Sussex estate. Acclaimed by customers as the best English sparkling they have tasted, this is a wine to watch.
Both wines are available to buy directly from the estate via the Wine Shop. Customers must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol.
Tours and Tastings: A 90 - 120 Minute Walk Through the South Downs
Trotton Estate has been named one of The Times 2021 Top 20 Vineyards to Visit in the UK, with the newspaper praising the property as “a small, family-run vineyard, surrounded by the most beautiful countryside.” The classic visit was a leisurely walk through the vines led by the estate’s expert wine guide Iain, followed by a tasting of the sparkling and still wines in the charming wine lodge at the heart of the vineyards, with panoramic views of the South Downs as a backdrop.
Tours and tastings typically lasted 90 - 120 minutes and historically ran every Friday from 12pm and every Saturday from 11am between May and September. Special dates and private parties could be arranged on request. Gift Vouchers were also available by phone or email. The 2023 season began on 6 May 2023.
The estate is no longer offering tours and tastings, and the 2023 season is fully booked.
Picnics Among the Vines
For those who were able to book a tour, the estate offered the option to extend the visit with a picnic hamper enjoyed among the vines. Priced at £20 per person and described by the estate as “delicious”, the picnic experience was overseen by Carolyn herself; orders were taken directly via carolyn.butler@trottonestatevineyards.com.
Buying, Returns and Customer Care
Wines are sold direct through the Wine Shop and the estate’s standard Terms apply. Orders are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the company will not sell or deliver alcohol to anyone under 18; gift orders must confirm the recipient’s age in the order notes. All prices are inclusive of UK VAT. UK bond-stock orders typically ship within seven days via an independent courier who will attempt two deliveries before returning the goods to the warehouse.
Faulty bottles are refunded or replaced in full - the estate arranges and pays for collection at the customer’s convenience - and orders can be cancelled at any time before first delivery. Complaints should be sent by email to carolyn.butler@trottonestatevineyards.com with as much detail as possible, or in writing to Trotton Estate Vineyards Ltd, Gatehouse Farm, Rogate, Petersfield, GU31 5DB. The Directors can also be reached by phone on +44 (0)7787 510383.
Visiting Trotton Estate Vineyards
Trotton Estate sits in the village of Trotton in West Sussex, close to the Hampshire border and within the South Downs National Park. The estate’s postal address - Gatehouse Farm, Rogate, Petersfield, GU31 5DB - places it just a short drive from Petersfield, Midhurst and the A272, the very road whose established vineyards first inspired the Butlers to plant their own. A location pin is provided via Trotton Estate Vineyards on Google Maps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trotton Estate Vineyards?
Trotton Estate Vineyards is located at Gatehouse Farm, Rogate, Petersfield, GU31 5DB, in West Sussex, within the South Downs National Park.
Who owns Trotton Estate Vineyards?
The estate is owned by Robin and Carolyn Butler. Carolyn is the producer; the still wines are made by Simon Woodhead at Stopham Vineyard, while the sparkling cuvée is made by two French winemakers.
What wines does Trotton Estate make?
Two wines: the still white Brilliant Bacchus with a Dash of Pinot Gris (95% Bacchus, 5% Pinot Gris, 11% abv, around 600 bottles per vintage) and the traditional-method Spectacular English Sparkling Brut Classic Cuvée, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
How much is the Brilliant Bacchus?
The current release is priced at £15.75 per bottle, inclusive of UK VAT, and can be ordered by emailing carolyn.butler@trottonestatevineyards.com.
Are vineyard tours and tastings available?
The estate has historically offered 90 - 120 minute tours and tastings every Friday and Saturday from May to September, plus picnic hampers at £20 per person. Tours and tastings are no longer being offered, and the 2023 season is fully booked.
How can I contact the estate?
Email carolyn.butler@trottonestatevineyards.com, call the Directors on +44 (0)7787 510383, or write to Trotton Estate Vineyards Ltd, Gatehouse Farm, Rogate, Petersfield, GU31 5DB.
A Small Estate with Big Ambitions
Trotton Estate may be tiny by global standards - 4.2 hectares, 20,000 vines, and an annual production of just a few thousand bottles - but the wines coming out of West Sussex punch well above their weight. A Silver Medal at the Sommeliers Wine Awards, a mention in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, a place on The Times 2021 Top 20, and a sparkling that has reportedly beaten the great Champagne houses in blind tastings are no small achievements. As the Butlers put it themselves: “It’s small but you know the saying… big things come in small packages.” Watch this vineyard.